The third-gen Kia Sorento mid-size SUV has been spied without any camouflage near Andhra Pradesh.
It is a known fact that Kia is planning on hitting our shores with a bang. The Korean automaker has been very active in testing cars and conducting road shows for dealer selection in India. Recently, Kia Motors signed an MoU with the Andhra Pradesh State Govt. to set up a manufacturing facility in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh. While the third-gen Kia Sorento has been spied previously as well, this is the first instance of the model being spotted doing test rounds.
Making its debut in South Korea in mid-2014, the third-gen Sorento spied in India is the top-spec GT-Line trim which gets 19-inch alloy wheels, panoramic sunroof, GT-Line package and LED headlights to differentiate it from lower variants. On the inside, the SUV gets a 7-inch TFT instrument cluster, 2nd row sunshades, black single-tone interior colour with gloss black door trims and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment unit with Harman Kardon 10-speaker setup.
The Kia Sorento GT-Line is powered by a 2.2-litre diesel engine which develops 197 HP of power at 3800 RPM and 441 Nm of torque from 1750-2750 RPM. An 8-speed automatic gearbox transmits the power to all four wheels via an Active AWD system. Measuring 4800 x 1890 x 1690 mm (length x width x height) in exterior dimensions, the Sorento has a wheelbase of 2780 mm and a 71-litre fuel tank. Cargo space with all seven seats in place is 142-litres which goes up to 605-litres with the last row folded.
The Kia Sorento also scored exceptionally in NHTSA testing and some other crash tests. The car gets ABS, traction control, electronic stability control and front, side and curtain airbags as part of safety equipment. Kia Motors is likely to start its India operations in the next couple of years and the company has planned a slew of launches starting with lower segments.
Third-Gen Kia Sorento
– Kia Sorento spied on test in Andhra Pradesh
– Top-spec GT-Line variant comes with advanced equipment
– Powered by 2.2-litre diesel engine paired to 8-speed automatic gearbox
– SUV has scored 5-stars in crash tests
Source – RushLane.com